Thursday, May 10, 2012

SWFBUD's Statement On Friendship TrailBridge Renewal Plan

Let's look at the big picture: It's all about economic competition between major urban markets in this country.

When companies go shopping for cities to call home, they visit urban centers with a checklist that includes everything from schools to parks.

Tampa Bay's biggest calling card is our watery geography and weather -- so let's invest in infrastructure and amenities that showcase our strength. And that's providing people -- both residents and visitors -- access to water via a world-class linear facility. After all, the Bay is the geographic feature that lends us our identity and ties all of us together here in Tampa Bay.

Before the TrailBridge was closed in 2008, more than 600,000 annual users biked, walked, fished, rollerbladed this 2.6-mile public treasure. The variety of users was stunning, coming from all walks of life and both sides of the Bay.

Our planners know that people in Tampa Bay are thirsting for not only a safe place to bike and walk but also a pleasant venue. Our region has a notorious national reputation for the tragic high number of bicyclist and pedestrian deaths, so why is Hillsborough County considering blowing up a safe haven when we should be increasing our inventory of safe and attractive places to walk and bike?

The business blueprint to create a new chapter in the life of this bridge does not call for Hillsborough County to underwrite the bill to fix the resource. Instead, the game plan is simple -- local residents will create a non-profit and that non-profit will team up with Hillsborough County to form a private-public partnership.

For $13.7 million in donations and grants, we will save the good parts of the current bridge and replace the bad parts that have been damaged by the spray of salt water.

Here's the structural lowdown: The removed low span approaches can be replaced with modern, prefabricated metal structures commonly used for pedestrian bridges and trails. By replacing the low span approaches with new metal structures, the life expectancy is increased to more than 30 years, while the overall weight and yearly maintenance costs are significantly decreased.

Where will the money come from? Revenue to transform the FTB will come from three main sources; donations, grants, and fees.

Where will the money come from to maintain the new life of the bridge that we expect will last at least another 30 years to at least 2047? During the entire project, 55 percent of funds will come from donations and 45 percent will come from revenue after the bridge is opened including vendor rentals, parking fees and special events.

We believe a new and improved TrailBridge carries economic clout: A transformed bridge will be visited by more than 680,000 people a year and will increase direct spending by $14 million per year or more in both counties. That translates into more than $786 million in spending and 35 million visitors during the TrailBridge's extended new life.

As the director of a Tampa Bay alliance of 10 bike shops and the founder of an urban bicycle club in Tampa, the most popular refrain is, "I want to bike but I don't feel safe biking on local roads."

A new and improved TrailBridge helps answer that concern.

The idea of getting the TrailBridge back on line has struck a chord with so many different demographic groups in Tampa Bay and even radio sports talk hosts have taken up the cause.

Regrettably, our local elected leaders took an unimaginative approach to dealing with the closed TrailBridge. Proposed repair costs were across the board and eventually the easy way out was suggested -- blow the thing up.

Tampa Bay is in the fight for its economic life and destroying beloved iconic landmarks is not the strategy needed to compete with Southeast competitors such as Atlanta and Raleigh.

SWFBUD stands squarely behind a business blueprint that offers a realistic vision and feasible economic solution that has been submitted to Hillsborough County commissioners for review.

I know thousands of Tampa Bay residents want to walk, fish, bike and soak up the vistas from a new and improved TrailBridge. So, tell the county commissioners exactly that.

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Hillsborough County is a leader in two major negative quality of life indicators: along with Orlando it's the most dangerous place in America to ride a bike, and according to American Lung Association's new report, it has Florida's worst air quality, with more high ozone days than anywhere else, making it a risky place for those with asthma to exercise outdoors as they'd like.

There's a direct connection between these two sad facts. As Alan says, some don't ride because they don't feel it's safe, and our high ozone levels come primarily from the fact that we have to drive our cars for every trip, due to our lack of other choices, including safe paths for bikes.

Connecting the bay again by bike will be good for our economy, as it will help erase these two black eyes that keep some from choosing to come here and prevent life in an otherwise wonderful area from being as great as it could be. This private-public approach is a very sensible way to help our community thrive in so many ways, and deserves the support of everyone who cares about Tampa Bay.

BICYCLE BASH -- APRIL 6 Downtown Tampa

Attend the premier bike advocacy event in the southeast U.S. at Cotanchobee Park in downtown Tampa on Nov 4 from 10am-4pm

SWFBUD Supports Transformation of the Friendship TrailBridge

SWFBUD celebrated on July 27 when SWFBUD worked with a local Tampa Bay group to prompt the Hillsborough County Commission to delay the treasured Friendship TrailBridge so that we can develop a feasibility plan for a new-and-improved Friendship TrailBridge/ Click on rendering below for SWFBUD's case for a new FTB.

SWFBUD is lobbying Tampa and Hillsborough County to partner in building the BAM Network (Bicycle Area Mobility) by connecting the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway into one unified paved trail network. Click on photo for BAM story.

League of American Bicyclists Letter

The League of American Bicyclists wrote a great letter in response to the Hillsborough County bicycle safety action plan explaining that aggressive, reckless and careless driving must be addressed in addition to bicyclist education. Click the photo and read the letter.

Bicycle Safety PSA

SWFBUD Works With Hillsborough County On Bicycle Safety PSA. Click on photo for PSA.

SWFBUD Prompts Bicycle Safety Action Plan

On Oct. 1, SWFBUD Director Alan Snel met Hillsborough County Mark Sharpe to ask that a bike plan be initiated after another bicyclist was killed in Tampa. Sharpe then prompted his county commissioners to initiate the plan. The next day, Snel worked to get the Tampa City Council to join the bike action plan.

SWFBUD Bicycle Safety Poster

SWFBUD thanks Tanja for the design, Kirt for the photo and Joe for the 3feetplease yellow jerseys.

SWFBUD on Facebook

SWFBUD is an award-winning and nationally-recognized alliance of 10 Tampa Bay retail bicycle stores united to grow bicycling in this region. Click on SWFBUD logo to get to SWFBUD's new Facebook group page.

SWFBUD's Current Project

SWFBUD is partnering with local police to encourage law enforcement agencies to deploy portable electronic message signs to display bike safety messages such as "Allow 3 Feet When Passing Bikes" and "Share the Road with Bicycles." This sign was deployed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Fletcher Avenue outside Tampa.

SWFBUD Project

SWFBUD sprung to action after a HART public bus nearly struck a cyclist on a Tampa street by violating the law requiring all motorists to pass a cyclist by a minimum space of at least three feet. SWFBUD appeared before the HART board and requested HART launch a sign campaign to inform motorists to pass bicyclists by a minimum distance of three feet. In response, HART buses are now displaying this sign on the back.

WHAT IS SWFBUD and HOW DID IT START?

SWFBUD (South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers) is a Tampa Bay bicycle advocacy alliance of 12 bicycle store dealers and four law firms committed to raising the profile of bicycling in the Tampa Bay market, getting more people on bicycles and drawing more public resources for bicycling.

The SWFBUD members enlist Alan Snel, a bicycle advocate and former metro newspaper reporter, to lobby local governments to provide more bicycle resources and to put on the Bicycle Bash festival.

SWFBUD is a play on words of Swiftmud, the Tampa Bay water district agency.

SWFBUD traces its roots to the summer of 2006, when then-Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium owner David Luppino (who now owns Just Ride Bicycles) hired Snel for promotions, marketing and to help put on the Bicycle Bash festival. At the start of 2007, Luppino believed it was appropriate that other Tampa Bay bike stores get involved in promoting bicycling, so Snel recruited other store dealers to get involved.

The Bicycle Bash was first held in October 2006 on the St. Pete Times Forum plaza before a Tampa Bay Lightning afternoon hockey game before SWFBUD moved the Bicycle Bash to St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park in 2007 and 2008 and to North Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg in 2009. In 2010, the Bicycle Bash was moved into Hillsborough County's Flatwoods Park on Nov. 7 so that bicyclists can enjoy the Bash's exhibitor village and also have fun doing live biking in the park. In 2011, the Bicycle Bash will be held again at Flatwoods Park on NOV 6.

SWFBUD won national retail bicycle advocacy awards in 2009 from the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) and the Trek Bicycle Corporation. The Bicycle Bash won the Florida Event of the Year in 2007 from the Florida Bicycle Association.

SWFBUD's Snel attends many public meetings in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, plus the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. to lobby political leaders and governing agencies to commit more resources to bicycling. SWFBUD believes communities that embrace and invest in bicycling become more successful and sustainable.

SWFBUD's Bicycle Bash Video From The 2009 Event

Last year. more than 3,000 bicyclists of all backgrounds descended on the fourth Bicycle Bash festival. Click on the photo for a fun video of the event from last October.

Flatwoods Park Ranger Thanks SWFBUD For Saving Park and Jobs

In 2009, SWFBUD lobbied Hillsborough County to keep Flatwoods and all of its parks open seven days a week after a proposed budget had called for axing two days from the parks' schedule. SWFBUD worked with Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe to save the parks with a new financial program that includes new fees to keep the parks open and save rangers' jobs. Click on photo to see video of Ranger Rick of Flatwoods Park thanking SWFBUD.

SWFBUD Forging Political Alliances

SWFBUD worked with Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe to keep the county's parks open seven days a week after the county administraor proposed a budget that would close parks two days a week. "(SWFBUD) has lobbied for proper lanes and for appropriate enforcement of existing laws to improve community visibility for our fellow cyclists." -- Tampa cyclist Picot Floyd.

SWFBUD Working For Bicyclists

"Alan, I appreciate your willingness to work with us to improve officer awareness and promote bicycle safety among riders. It is our hope that the streets of Tampa will be friendlier to cyclists and ultimately safer for all." -- Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor

SWFBUD Reaching Out To Connect With Bicyclists

SWFBUD Director Alan Snel speaks about improving bicycle infrastructure to government boards and community groups. "Between the event, video, and all the articles where I see your name, you are transforming our community." -- Gena Torres, former Hillsborough Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator

SWFBUD Organizing Bicyclists To Take Political Action

At 5 PM on a summer day, SWFBUD led a bike ride of more than 30 bicyclists to a local county budget hearing to tell county commissioners to not close parks two days a week. Mariella Smith, Hillsborough County environmentalist: "Thank you, Alan, for all you do to make our community safer - and more fun - for cyclists."

SWFBUD Advising TBARTA To Include Bicycling In Light Rail

SWFBUD Director Alan Snel has appeared before the TBARTA several times to make sure the Tampa Bay regional agency includes bicycle facilities in any proposed light rail development. After one meeting, Snel shakes hands with former TBARTA Board Chairman Shelton Quarles.

SWFBUD Holding The Bicycle Bash Festival

Every year thousands of bicyclists descend on the Bicycle Bash event, held annually by SWFBUD to celebrate bicycling in Tampa Bay and to energize people to get on bikes.

SWFBUD Speaking Out At Political Meetings

"Retailers have to become political if we’re going to survive. We need to have relationships with advocacy groups and planners.” said Alan Snel, director of the South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers, an alliance of bicycle stores in the Tampa Bay area. -- Bicycle Retailer and Industry News magazine.

SWFBUD Wins National Advocacy Award From Trek Bicycle Corp. President John Burke

SWFBUD Wins National Bicycle Advocacy Award

The national magazine that covers the bicycle industry in this country honored SWFBUD with the 2009 Bicycle Retail Advocacy Award at the Bicycle Leadership Conference in Monterey, Calif. SWFBUD is deeply honored by this national recognition and I received the award from Megan Tompkins, editor of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, and Tim Blumenthal, executive editor of Bikes Belong Coalition. Click photo for more info and check SP Times story, too: http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article996595.ece

ABC Bicycles and Trek Bicycle Store, St. Petersburg Join SWFBUD

SWFBUD welcomes Rick Fidanzato, who owns ABC Bicycles on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg and a Trek Bicycle Store on 4th Street in St. Pete. Rick is an ardent bicycle advocate who understands that bicycling makes a community stronger and plans to conduct events that tie into St. Pete's local cultural and restaurant scenes.

Bicycle Outfitters in Seminole

Adam Beland's store is right on the Pinellas Trail and was awarded adventure bike shop of the year by the Adventure Cycling Association

Chainwheel Drive in Clearwater and Palm Harbor

Owner Tom Jessup is a board member of the National Bicycle Dealers Association and his store was recognized as one of the Top 100 Bicycle Retailers by the trade publication, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

J. Steele Olmstead, Tampa/Sprinh HIll lawyer

J. Steele is a passionate bicyclist and lawyers who cares deeply about bicyclists' rights in Tampa Bay and Florida. His brother also owns a bicycle store in Tallahassee.

Mark Roman Law Group

The Mark Roman Law Group is in Clearwater and is SWFBUD's latest member. Law firm partners Mark Roman and Morgan Gaynor are bicyclists who support SWFBUD's mission of growing bicycling in the Tampa Bay area.

Oliver's Cycle Sports in New Tampa

Street Fit 360

Owners Jana and Andy Clark are bicycle advocates who have attended Friendship TrailBridge meetings and are happy to join forces with other Tampa Bay bicycle stores to grow bicycling in the Tampa Bay market.

Velo Champ in Seminole Heights

Thomas Singletary, Tampa lawyer

Tom Singletary is one of the biggest advicates for bicycling in the Tampa Bay region. Tom is an accomplished bicyclist and runner and legal expert on bicycle insurance and law issues. SWFBUD welcomes Tom as a member.

Trek Bicycle Store -- Tampa and Clearwater

SWFBUD is happy to report that The Trek Bicycle Store in South Tampa on MacDill Ave. and in Clearwater on US 19 have joined the SWFBUD family. Kevin McDermott is the manager of the two stores and when you visit those stores, tell them you're happy to hear they've joined SWFBUD. The stores' owner, David Sanborn, is known in Central Florida for also owning Trek stores in the Orlando area.

University Bicycle Center in Tampa

Manny Mirabal is the owner of University Bicycle Center, better known as UBC to bicylists in the Tampa area. UBC is a longtime, family-owned bike shop at 1220 E. Fletcher Avenue in Tampa north of the USF campus. Manny is also vice president of the Tampa bay Freewheelers.

SWFBUD: South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers

Alan Snel is a journalist who took 6 1/2 years off from his daily newspaper career to create a bicycle store alliance in Tampa Bay to grow bicycling as a healthy lifestyle and as an effective mode of transportation. He returned to daily newspaper journalism in Las Vegas, working as a business writer covering the business of sports and stadiums for the Las Vegas review-Journal. You can find Alan biking the hills and mountains outside Las Vegas with a camera in his jersey pocket.